"Here's Aunt Susanna, girls," said Laura who was sitting by the north window—nothing but north light does for Laura who is the artist of our talented family.
Each of us has a little pet new-fledged talent which we are faithfully cultivating in the hope that it will amount to something and soar highly some day. But it is difficult to cultivate four talents on our tiny income. If Laura wasn't such a good manager we never could do it.
Laura's words were a signal for Kate to hang up her violin and for me to push my pen and portfolio2 out of sight. Laura had hidden her brushes and water colors as she spoke3. Only Margaret continued to bend serenely4 over her Latin grammar. Aunt Susanna frowns on musical and literary and artistic6 ambitions but she accords a faint approval to Margaret's desire for an education. A college course, with a tangible7 diploma at the end, and a sensible pedagogic aspiration8 is something Aunt Susanna can understand when she tries hard. But she cannot understand messing with paints, fiddling9, or scribbling10, and she has only unmeasured contempt for messers, fiddlers, and scribblers. Time was when we had paid no attention to Aunt Susanna's views on these points; but ever since she had, on one incautious day when she was in high good humor, dropped a pale, anemic little hint that she might send Margaret to college if she were a good girl we had been bending all our energies towards securing Aunt Susanna's approval. It was not enough that Aunt Susanna should approve of Margaret; she must approve of the whole four of us or she would not help Margaret. That is Aunt Susanna's way. Of late we had been growing a little discouraged. Aunt Susanna had recently read a magazine article which stated that the higher education of women was ruining our country and that a woman who was a B.A. couldn't, in the very nature of things, ever be a housewifely, cookly creature. Consequently, Margaret's chances looked a little foggy; but we hadn't quite given up hope. A very little thing might sway Aunt Susanna one way or the other, so that we walked very softly and tried to mingle12 serpents' wisdom and doves' harmlessness in practical portions.
When Aunt Susanna came in Laura was crocheting13, Kate was sewing, and I was poring over a recipe book. That was not deception14 at all, since we did all these things frequently—much more frequently, in fact, than we painted or fiddled15 or wrote. But Aunt Susanna would never believe it. Nor did she believe it now.
She threw back her lovely new sealskin cape16, looked around the sitting-room17 and then smiled—a truly Aunt Susannian smile.
"What a pity you forgot to wipe that smudge of paint off your nose, Laura," she said sarcastically18. "You don't seem to get on very fast with your lace. How long is it since you began it? Over three months, isn't it?"
"This is the third piece of the same pattern I've done in three months, Aunt Susanna," said Laura presently. Laura is an old duck. She never gets cross and snaps back. I do; and it's so hard not to with Aunt Susanna sometimes. But I generally manage it for I'd do anything for Margaret. Laura did not tell Aunt Susanna that she sold her lace at the Women's Exchange in town and made enough to buy her new hats. She makes enough out of her water colors to dress herself.
Aunt Susanna took a second breath and started in again.
"I notice your violin hasn't quite as much dust on it as the rest of the things in this room, Kate. It's a pity you stopped playing just as I came in. I don't enjoy fiddling much but I'd prefer it to seeing anyone using a needle who isn't accustomed to it."
Kate is really a most dainty needlewoman and does all the fine sewing in our family. She colored and said nothing—that being the highest pitch of virtue19 to which our Katie, like myself, can attain20.
"And there's Margaret ruining her eyes over books," went on Aunt Susanna severely21. "Will you kindly22 tell me, Margaret Thorne, what good you ever expect Latin to do you?"
"Well, you see, Aunt Susanna," said Margaret gently—Magsie and Laura are birds of a feather—"I want to be a teacher if I can manage to get through, and I shall need Latin for that."
All the girls except me had now got their accustomed rap, but I knew better than to hope I should escape.
"So you're reading a recipe book, Agnes? Well, that's better than poring over a novel. I'm afraid you haven't been at it very long though. People generally don't read recipes upside down—and besides, you didn't quite cover up your portfolio. I see a corner of it sticking out. Was genius burning before I came in? It's too bad if I quenched23 the flame."
"A cookery book isn't such a novelty to me as you seem to think, Aunt Susanna," I said, as meekly24 as it was possible for me. "Why I'm a real good cook—'if I do say it as hadn't orter.'"
I am, too.
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Aunt Susanna skeptically, "because that has to do with my errand her to-day. I'm in a peck of troubles. Firstly, Miranda Mary's mother has had to go and get sick and Miranda Mary must go home to wait on her. Secondly25, I've just had a telegram from my sister-in-law who has been ordered west for her health, and I'll have to leave on to-night's train to see her before she goes. I can't get back until the noon train Thursday, and that is Thanksgiving, and I've invited Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert to dinner that day. They'll come on the same train. I'm dreadfully worried. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do except get on of you girls to go up to the Pinery Thursday morning and cook the dinner for us. Do you think you can manage it?"
We all felt rather dismayed, and nobody volunteered with a rush. But as I had just boasted that I could cook it was plainly my duty to step into the breach26, and I did it with fear and trembling.
"I'll go, Aunt Susanna," I said.
"And I'll help you," said Kate.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to try you," said Aunt Susanna with the air of a woman determined27 to make the best of a bad business. "Here is the key of the kitchen door. You'll find everything in the pantry, turkey and all. The mince28 pies are all ready made so you'll only have to warm them up. I want dinner sharp at twelve for the train is due at 11:50. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are very particular and I do hope you will have things right. Oh, if I could only be home myself! Why will people get sick at such inconvenient29 times?"
"Don't worry, Aunt Susanna," I said comfortingly. "Kate and I will have your Thanksgiving dinner ready for you in tiptop style."
"Well I'm sure I hope so. Don't get to mooning over a story, Agnes. I'll lock the library up and fortunately there are no fiddles30 at the Pinery. Above all, don't let any of the McGinnises in. They'll be sure to be prowling around when I'm not home. Don't give that dog of theirs any scraps31 either. That is Miranda Mary's one fault. She will feed that dog in spite of all I can do and I can't walk out of my own back door without falling over him."
We promise to eschew32 the McGinnises and all their works, including the dog, and when Aunt Susanna had gone we looked at each other with mingled33 hope and fear.
"Girls, this is the chance of your lives," said Laura. "If you can only please Aunt Susanna with this dinner it will convince her that you are good cooks in spite of your nefarious34 bent35 for music and literature. I consider the illness of Miranda Mary's mother a Providential interposition—that is, if she isn't too sick."
"It's all very well for you to be pleased, Lolla," I said dolefully. "But I don't feel jubilant over the prospect36 at all. Something will probably go wrong. And then there's our own nice little Thanksgiving celebration we've planned, and pinched and economized37 for weeks to provide. That is half spoiled now."
"Oh, what is that compared to Margaret's chance of going to college?" exclaimed Kate. "Cheer up, Aggie38. You know we can cook. I feel that it is now or never with Aunt Susanna."
I cheered up accordingly. We are not given to pessimism39 which is fortunate. Ever since father died four years ago we have struggled on here, content to give up a good deal just to keep our home and be together. This little gray house—oh, how we do love it and its apple trees—is ours and we have, as aforesaid, a tiny income and our ambitions; not very big ambitions but big enough to give zest40 to our lives and hope to the future. We've been very happy as a rule. Aunt Susanna has a big house and lots of money but she isn't as happy as we are. She nags41 us a good deal—just as she used to nag1 father—but we don't mind it very much after all. Indeed, I sometimes suspect that we really like Aunt Susanna tremendously if she'd only leave us alone long enough to find it out.
Thursday morning was an ideal Thanksgiving morning—bright, crisp and sparkling. There had been a white frost in the night, and the orchard42 and the white birch wood behind it looked like fairyland. We were all up early. None of us had slept well, and both Kate and I had had the most fearful dreams of spoiling Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving dinner.
"Never mind, dreams always go by contraries, you know," said Laura cheerfully. "You'd better go up to the Pinery early and get the fires on, for the house will be cold. Remember the McGinnises and the dog. Weigh the turkey so that you'll know exactly how long to cook it. Put the pies in the oven in time to get piping hot—lukewarm mince pies are an abomination. Be sure—"
"Laura, don't confuse us with any more cautions," I groaned43, "or we shall get hopelessly fuddled. Come on, Kate, before she has time to."
It wasn't very far up to the Pinery—just ten minutes' walk, and such a delightful44 walk on that delightful morning. We went through the orchard and then through the white birch wood where the loveliness of the frosted boughs45 awed46 us. Beyond that there was a lane between ranks of young, balsamy, white-misted firs and then an open pasture field, sere5 and crispy. Just across it was the Pinery, a lovely old house with dormer windows in the roof, surrounded by pines that were dark and glorious against the silvery morning sky.
The McGinnis dog was sitting on the back-door steps when we arrived. He wagged his tail ingratiatingly, but we ruthlessly pushed him off, went in and shut the door in his face. All the little McGinnises were sitting in a row on their fence, and they whooped47 derisively48. The McGinnis manners are not those which appertain to the caste of Vere de Vere; but we rather like the urchins—there are eight of them—and we would probably have gone over to talk to them if we had not had the fear of Aunt Susanna before our eyes.
We kindled49 the fires, weighed the turkey, put it in the oven and prepared the vegetables. Then we set the dining-room table and decorated it with Aunt Susanna's potted ferns and dishes of lovely red apples. Everything went so smoothly50 that we soon forgot to be nervous. When the turkey was done, we took it out, set it on the back of the range to keep warm and put the mince pies in. The potatoes, cabbage and turnips51 were bubbling away cheerfully, and everything was going as merrily as a marriage bell. Then, all at once, things happened.
In an evil hour we went to the yard window and looked out. We saw a quiet scene. The McGinnis dog was still sitting on his haunches by the steps, just as he had been sitting all the morning. Down in the McGinnis yard everything wore an unusually peaceful aspect. Only one McGinnis was in sight—Tony, aged11 eight, who was perched up on the edge of the well box, swinging his legs and singing at the top of his melodious53 Irish voice. All at once, just as we were looking at him, Tony went over backward and apparently54 tumbled head foremost down his father's well.
Kate and I screamed simultaneously55. We tore across the kitchen, flung open the door, plunged56 down over Aunt Susanna's yard, scrambled57 over the fence and flew to the well. Just as we reached it, Tony's red head appeared as he climbed serenely out over the box. I don't know whether I felt more relieved or furious. He had merely fallen on the blank guard inside the box: and there are times when I am tempted58 to think he fell on purpose because he saw Kate and me looking out at the window. At least he didn't seem at all frightened, and grinned most impishly at us.
Kate and I turned on our heels and marched back in as dignified59 a manner as was possible under the circumstances. Half way up Aunt Susanna's yard we forgot dignity and broke into a run. We had left the door open and the McGinnis dog had disappeared.
Never shall I forget the sight we saw or the smell we smelled when we burst into that kitchen. There on the floor was the McGinnis dog and what was left of Aunt Susanna's Thanksgiving turkey. As for the smell, imagine a commingled60 odor of scorching61 turnips and burning mince pies, and you have it.
The dog fled out with a guilty yelp62. I groaned and snatched the turnips off. Kate threw open the oven door and dragged out the pies. Pies and turnips were ruined as irretrievably as the turkey.
"Do!" Kate was superb. She didn't lose her wits for a second. "We'll go home and borrow the girls' dinner. Quick—there's just ten minutes before train time. Throw those pies and turnips into this basket—the turkey too—we'll carry them with us to hide them."
I might not be able to evolve an idea like that on the spur of the moment, but I can at least act up to it when it is presented. Without a moment's delay we shut the door and ran. As we went I saw the McGinnis dog licking his chops over in their yard. I have been ashamed ever since of my feelings toward that dog. They were murderous. Fortunately I had no time to indulge them.
It is ten minutes walk from the Pinery to our house, but you can run it in five. Kate and I burst into the kitchen just as Laura and Margaret were sitting down to dinner. We had neither time nor breath for explanations. Without a word I grasped the turkey platter and the turnip52 tureen. Kate caught one hot mince pie from the oven and whisked a cold one out of the pantry.
"We've—got—to have—them," was all she said.
I've always said that Laura and Magsie would rise to any occasion. They saw us carry their Thanksgiving dinner off under their very eyes and they never interfered64 by word or motion. They didn't even worry us with questions. They realized that something desperate had happened and that the emergency called for deed not words.
"Aggie," gasped65 Kate behind me as we tore through the birch wood, "the border—of these pies—is crimped—differently—from Aunt Susanna's."
"She—won't know—the difference," I panted. "Miranda—Mary—crimps them."
We got back to the Pinery just as the train whistle blew. We had ten minutes to transfer turkey and turnips to Aunt Susanna's dishes, hide our own, air the kitchen, and get back our breath. We accomplished66 it. When Aunt Susanna and her guests came we were prepared for them: we were calm—outwardly—and the second mince pie was getting hot in the oven. It was ready by the time it was needed. Fortunately our turkey was the same size as Aunt Susanna's, and Laura had cooked a double supply of turnips, intending to warm them up the next day. Still, all things considered, Kate and I didn't enjoy that dinner much. We kept thinking of poor Laura and Magsie at home, dining off potatoes on Thanksgiving!
But at least Aunt Susanna was satisfied. When Kate and I were washing the dishes she came out quite beamingly.
"Well, my dears, I must admit that you made a very good job of the dinner, indeed. The turkey was done to perfection. As for the mince pies—well, of course Miranda Mary made them, but she must have had extra good luck with them, for they were excellent and heated to just the right degree. You didn't give anything to the McGinnis dog, I hope?"
"No, we didn't give him anything," said Kate.
Aunt Susanna did not notice the emphasis.
When we had finished the dishes we smuggled67 our platter and tureen out of the house and went home. Laura and Margaret were busy painting and studying and were just as sweet-tempered as if we hadn't robbed them of their dinner. But we had to tell them the whole story before we even took off our hats.
"There is a special Providence68 for children and idiots," said Laura gently. We didn't ask her whether she meant us or Tony McGinnis or both. There are some things better left in obscurity. I'd have probably said something much sharper than that if anybody had made off with my Thanksgiving turkey so unceremoniously.
Aunt Susanna came down the next day and told Margaret that she would send her to college. Also she commissioned Laura to paint her a water-color for her dining-room and said she'd pay her five dollars for it.
Kate and I were rather left out in the cold in this distribution of favors, but when you come to reflect that Laura and Magsie had really cooked that dinner, it was only just.
Anyway, Aunt Susanna has never since insinuated69 that we can't cook, and that is as much as we deserve.
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1
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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portfolio
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| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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sere
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| adj.干枯的；n.演替系列 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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fiddling
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| 微小的 | |
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scribbling
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| n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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crocheting
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| v.用钩针编织( crochet的现在分词 )；钩编 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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fiddled
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| v.伪造( fiddle的过去式和过去分词 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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fiddles
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| n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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eschew
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| v.避开，戒绝 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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economized
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| v.节省，减少开支( economize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aggie
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| n.农校，农科大学生 | |
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pessimism
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| n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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whooped
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| 叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起 | |
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derisively
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| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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turnips
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| 芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表 | |
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turnip
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| n.萝卜，芜菁 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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58
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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60
commingled
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| v.混合，掺和，合并( commingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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62
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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63
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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64
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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65
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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66
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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67
smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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68
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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69
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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